Pope Francis waves as he leaves his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 4. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Last week Pope Francis addressed members of the
International Theological Commission at the conclusion of the group’s plenary
assembly, the theme of which was “The Relationship Between Monotheism and
Violence.”

“Theologians…are ‘pioneers’ in the Church’s dialogue with
cultures; a dialogue that is both critical and benevolent, which must encourage
the welcome of the Word of God by a part of persons ‘from every nation, race,
people, and tongue,’” Francis said in his remarks to those present. More
from Vatican Information Services:

“It is this very concept of
peace that has been the focus of your reflection on the Church’s social
doctrine, which has the goal of translating God’s love for the human person,
made manifest in Christ Jesus, into a concrete reality of societal life. … The
Church is held to living first of all within herself that social message that
it bears to the world. Fraternal relations between believers, authority as
service, sharing with the poor: all of these traits, which have characterized
ecclesial life from its origin, can and must constitute a living and attractive
model for the diverse human communities, from the family to civil society.”

“This witness,” the Bishop of
Rome emphasized, “pertain to the People of God, a People of prophets, in its
entirety. By the gift of the Holy Spirit, the members of the Church possess a ‘sense
of faith’. This is a kind of ‘spiritual instinct’ that makes us ‘sentire cum
Ecclesia’ [think with the mind of the Church] and to discern that which is in
conformity with the apostolic faith and is in the spirit of the Gospel. Of
course, the ‘sensus fidelium’ [sense of the faithful] cannot be confused with
the sociological reality of a majority opinion. It is, therefore, importantand
one of your tasksto develop criteria that allow the authentic expressions of
the ‘sensus fidelium’ to be discerned. … This attention is of greatest
importance for theologians. Pope Benedict XVI often pointed out that the
theologian must remain attentive to the faith lived by the humble and the
small, to whom it pleased the Father to reveal that which He had hidden from
the learned and the wise.”

“Your mission, therefore, is
both fascinating and risky. It is fascinating because research in and teaching
of theology can become a true path to holiness, as attested by many Fathers and
Doctors of the Church. But it is also risky because it bears temptations with
it: hardness of heart, pride, even ambition,” the Pope observed, recalling a
letter from St. Francis of Assisi to St. Anthony of Padua regarding this danger.
It warns: “I am glad that you are teaching the brothers sacred Theology
provided that, in the study, you do not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer
and devotion.”

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